PM 6 - Create, enhance and restore the habitat provided by bankside trees and shrubs
- Code
- PM 6
- Measure
- Create, enhance and restore the habitat provided by bankside trees and shrubs
- Description
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Bankside trees and shrubs grow along watercourses ranging from rivers and canals to small streams and brooks. They are important in reducing flood risk and absorbing pollutants from watercourses and also provide a key role as riparian corridors for a variety of species by providing cooling and shade, including in an urban setting. The habitats they provide should be enhanced through appropriate pollarding or coppicing to create structural diversity and increase longevity of trees, and through new plantings. Felled or fallen trees and branches can be secured to banks to reduce erosion risk and create additional riparian habitat. When creating new bankside tree and shrub habitat, consider especially planting native Black Poplar using local sources.
- Wider environmental benefits
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Increasing woodland cover Improving air quality Improving water quality Increasing flood risk management Reducing climate change impacts Supporting health and cultural services Improving soil health Promoting nature friendly farming Controlling invasive species
- Links to additional information and guidance
- Priority
- Herefordshire’s woodlands are well-managed and restored with woodland corridors created across the landscape
- Priority description
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Trees and woodlands hold significant biodiversity value and support wider benefits such as reduced flood risk, carbon sequestration and improved air quality. Herefordshire has approximately 19% woodland and tree cover, which is concentrated in areas such as the Malvern Hills or Wye Valley National Landscapes. It also has a significant number of isolated ancient woodlands, wood-pasture and parkland, and traditional orchards, a form of wooded habitat; all are of high importance in Herefordshire and are subject to separate priorities and measures. Approximately two thirds of the county’s woodlands are managed. Sustainable timber production can support woodland ecology and play an important role economically and environmentally in providing locally sourced timber. Sustainable woodland management is therefore critical for the longevity of wooded habitats in good ecological condition across Herefordshire as they face threats from pests, diseases, damage by grey squirrels and overgrazing by deer. Having a woodland management plan will support woodland owners to review their aims and objectives. The creation of new woodlands and corridors will also further support the climate resilience of these habitats, increase local timber production and enable species with poor powers of dispersal to commute, forage and migrate.
- Mapped